Noel Gallagher wishes Matt Cardle had beaten him to number one in the album chart.

The former Oasis rocker saw his debut solo LP ‘Noel Gallagher’s High-lying Birds’ top the UK chart on Sunday (23.10.11) and while he is delighted with the achievement, he wouldn’t have been upset if the 28-year-old singer – who shot to fame after winning UK TV talent show ‘The X Factor’ last year – had placed higher with his own first record.

He told BANG Showbiz: “Matt Cardle seems like a nice bloke. I’d have preferred it if he got it – share the wealth and all that, and he’s a young lad just starting out.

“I was glad I made the record and when I finally heard the finished thing it was good but anything else is out of your hands. When I heard Matt Cardle was out the same day there was a collective sigh because it’s ‘The X Factor’ and these crazy school girls tend to buy a lot of records for some reason.

“But [topping the chart] didn’t make me feel any greater or more special than I did the minute before someone told me it was number one. I like the record and if people like it, that’s it, other than that whatever happens, happens.”

Yesterday (24.10.11), Noel was honoured with the Q Icon accolade at the annual Q Awards held at London’s Grosvenor House hotel.

Although he was proud of his win, he insists prizes voted for by fans mean more to him than winning industry accolades.

Speaking at the ceremony, he said: “These are given to you by journalists and its nice to pick them up, but the ones voted by people, the readers – they’re the most important ones. But it’s like the charts isn’t it – if you’re going to release something, you might as well be number one, and if you’re going to go to these, you might as well win one.”